Back injuries are some of the most severe repercussions of a work-related accident, and they often keep a person from performing their normal work duties. If you suffered a back injury at your workplace, you may be able to pursue compensation for your losses, particularly if your employer is a non-subscriber to workers’ compensation.
Learn more about your legal options by contacting a Katy workplace back injury lawyer. Our personal injury attorney could carefully evaluate your case and determine how much compensation you could pursue by directly suing your employer.
The Non-Subscriber Law and How It Pertains to Workplace Injuries
While many states require employers to have workers’ compensation, Texas is the one state with a non-subscriber law. This law allows employers to decide if they want to subscribe to workers’ compensation or not. If they choose to opt out of workers’ compensation, then employees who are injured on the job could file a direct lawsuit against the employer.
If the injury was caused because of unsafe work conditions or an employer’s negligence, then the injured person could seek full compensation for losses. A workplace back injury lawyer in Katy can explain what may be included in a request for damages.
Types of Back Injuries
An experienced Katy lawyer knows that back injuries experienced while on the job can be debilitating. Back injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Sciatica pain
- Spinal stenosis
- Pulled muscles
- Pinched nerves
- Ligament tears
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractured vertebrae
- Lumbar strains and sprains
The severity of the back injury helps determine the amount of compensation that the injured employee could pursue.
Damages Covered in Workplace Back Injury Claims
A non-subscriber claim may include compensation for economic damages, such as medical expenses related to the back injury. It could also include the total amount of wages that were lost due to the injury. If the injured person is no longer able to work at the same type of job, then the damages may include the amount of future wages lost, as well.
Besides the economic damages, injured workers could be compensated for non-economic damages and losses, including the amount of pain and suffering they go through and the emotional distress they experience as a result of the accident. They could be compensated for loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disability, and loss of companionship, if those are losses related to the workplace accident. These non-economic losses would not normally be covered under typical workers’ compensation claims. Being able to directly file a lawsuit against the employer is an advantage which a Katy workplace back injury attorney could explain in more detail.
Time Limits on Non-Subscriber Claims
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including non-subscriber claims, is two years. This means an employee who was injured at work has two years from the date of the injury to file their claim. Let a lawyer know about an injury as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline.
Reach Out to a Katy Attorney to Pursue Compensation for a Workplace Back Injury
Whatever type of back injury you are dealing with, if it happened at work then there may be an opportunity to pursue compensation through a non-subscriber claim. A Katy workplace back injury lawyer could evaluate your situation and determine if this is a viable option for you.
At Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, we genuinely want to help injured people gain the compensation they deserve to cover their losses and move forward without financial stress. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
